OMG

This is EXACTLY what I was waiting for!
:-)

Rest assured, this watch is even more beautiful in real life. You can find a pic in the parallel SIHH pic request threat. You will love this watch!

OMG - what a beauty! :)

This watch looks fantastic, maybe the most beautiful Big Pilot ever. To me it certainly looks more beautiful than the previous model, that was only very short on the market. I wonder: those that bought the previous model, are they going to exchange their "old" model for the new one?

Kind regards,
Paul

This of course is not the first time a redesigned model with a generally similar look has replaced a previous version. In fact, a similar change happened with the BP's 5002 and 5004 (although movements also changed in that case).

To directly answer your question....

I purchased the very first BP LPP to arrive in the US. While I do prefer the new design, the difference is not enough to make me willing to sell my current watch at the market price for pre-owned and buy a new watch. The difference would be quite a few thousands of dollars. However, if the choice were between the two designs at the same price, I would choose the newer design.

Short answer is no. I think the new one is beautiful, but not as nice, to me, as the previous model. Both are cool but I doubt anyone with the previous model will feel the need to change. I don't.

The new one is gorgeous, has a soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields and has the "9" that some folks have been yearning for. I prefer, however, the applied numerals with rhodium trim and the exquisite typography of the original (and that it was a limited piece certainly doesn't hurt). I showed my "old" one to Georges Kern at the IWC gala (no, I was not drunk) and told him that I thought it was one of the most beautiful IWC watches he had ever made. That is still my opinion.

Having bought a Mark XV11 in November(and managing to keep it hidden for a whole month !) as a gift on our wedding anniversary just before Christmas, I worried terribly that I'd done the wrong thing in light of new models being in the pipeline for just a couple of months later.
But I am so glad that I bought when I did as he is delighted with his watch and I am mesmerised by it's beauty.
And I seem to be one of the very few who love the three-date feature.
Neither of us would swap it for the world.
And yes, I'm absolutely biased.

The Automatic 36 however.....

This watch is really cool. I am most happy with its predecessor, but the new one is very pleasing too.
[](fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/12512588_543164192519886_4645774833994739810_n.jpg?oh=b366b7f7f7b9eaf30aba94702b2bcba1&oe=573FC81D&gda=1464295340_549048741d0a51406a614374b80a8551)